The figure skating community in the Portland area is grieving after learning a group of figure skaters, coaches and their families were passengers on American Airlines flight 5342.

Natalie Santaguida, mother of Brunswick native Caroline Santaguida, said figure skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov became like family before they died in a plane crash last week.

A figure skating tribute will take place in Washington, D.C., in early March to support victims of the midair collision and crash outside Ronald Reagan International Airport. Organizers on Wednesday announced the “Legacy on Ice” benefit event scheduled for March 2 at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington,